Most recently Mr Callis spoke out strongly against large-scale new housing developments in the Market Harborough area, particularly the almost 1,500 houses approved for land north of the town, between Airfield Farm and Lubenham Hill.

But his “people’s champion” tag and his individual approach can be summed up by one incident in London in 2008 which resulted in him being stopped and searched by the police.

Mr Callis, then 69, said he was driven to protest after some MPs called for huge inflation-busting pay increases as part of a review into their controversial allowances payments.

So he decided to go for what he called “a leisurely stroll” in front of Parliament.

At the time he was also wearing a large sandwich board with slogans such as ‘MPs sleaze artists’.

Using the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act which makes it illegal to demonstrate outside Parliament without first gaining police permission, police stopped Mr Callis and took him into their office inside Parliament.

He was eventually freed with no action taken.

“I just had a good day out at Westminster” he smilingly told the Mail later.